I'm giving up racing.....
02-08-08, 07:20 AM
#26
You guys have overlooked Tom Cruise, who raced with SCCA for a while. He wrecked so many times his crew had shirts that said S(ee) C(ruise) C(rash) A(gain). I personally saw him take out about 10 other cars in 2 consecutive races and still chuckle at the memory of seeing him trying to leave the paddock at Summit Point in his Jaguar street car with a very upset competitor on his hood pounding on the car and trying to get to Cruise after he had just wrecked him for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. By the way as far as I know, this might be the last time Cruise raced.
02-08-08, 07:21 AM
#27
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My friend worked on the team that Patrick dempsey raced on during the Koni challenge race for the 24 at Daytona, and said that the team manager was on the verge of telling him to **** off due to his total lack of ability.
This is really the direction in which racing is going in my opinion. These are the people that get non-race fans excited about coming to events, and these are often times the people that bring sponsorship dollars.
Just like any weekend racer I give them props for going after their dreams, but humility is the greatest of virtues.
This is really the direction in which racing is going in my opinion. These are the people that get non-race fans excited about coming to events, and these are often times the people that bring sponsorship dollars.
Just like any weekend racer I give them props for going after their dreams, but humility is the greatest of virtues.
02-08-08, 09:13 AM
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02-08-08, 09:13 AM
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Ashley van Dyke>Muniz
http://www.ashleyvandyke.com/home.html
http://www.ashleyvandyke.com/home.html
02-08-08, 09:50 AM
#31
Honestly, I disagree. I think "bringing fans who weren't otherwise interested in the sport" is grossly over-rated.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
Good point here, my wife who never is interested in racing on TV watched part of the 24 at Daytona just to see Dempsey. If Mcdreamy can bring fans to the sport who whould otherwise not be interested I'm all for it. Certainly all the celebs can't have the talent of Steve McQuenn or Paul Newman, but I'm sure Dempsey will improve given some time and coaching. Most of the drivers in events such as Koni came thru SCCA or NASA to get experience. If we can get folkes interested in road racing vs. oval track then we can gain some members in these two fine organizations.
02-08-08, 10:26 AM
#32
Full Member
James Garner, Steve McQueen, Tim Allen, all sponsored or partnered in racing teams or ventures... but when it came down to continuing to spend the kind of money that was necessary to continue racing at the levels they were at they quit after a couple of years. To them it was all just a fun "hobby", it was not a passion, racing did not define who they were. I think Paul Neuman is the exception. After decades of racing, he still does what is necessary to have a winning team. Racer magazine had a good article about just this topic a couple of months ago.
02-08-08, 10:46 AM
#33
Lives on the Forum
In a 24 hour race you can have 3, 4, 5, or maybe even more drivers, so the actual seat time of any given one isn't necessarily that much. So a rich person with moderate talent could hire a number of tallented drivers to co-drive and let them do all the hard work and just cruise to an easy finish near the front.
A high placing finish in endurance racing isn't really indicative of the talent of any one given driver.
A high placing finish in endurance racing isn't really indicative of the talent of any one given driver.
02-08-08, 11:04 AM
#34
Full Member
I read an article that described how Steve McQueen did that in the late 60's, I do not remember all of the details, but I think it was a 9 or 12 hour race. The gist was he bought a Porsche 917 and hired Peter Revson, who drove like 70% of the race. I think they finished second, I remember Mario Andretti had some unkind words to say about McQueen after the race, something about him sharing the glory with Peter and contributing very little.
02-08-08, 11:18 AM
#35
You guys have overlooked Tom Cruise, who raced with SCCA for a while. He wrecked so many times his crew had shirts that said S(ee) C(ruise) C(rash) A(gain). I personally saw him take out about 10 other cars in 2 consecutive races and still chuckle at the memory of seeing him trying to leave the paddock at Summit Point in his Jaguar street car with a very upset competitor on his hood pounding on the car and trying to get to Cruise after he had just wrecked him for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. By the way as far as I know, this might be the last time Cruise raced.
Dave
02-08-08, 11:20 AM
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02-08-08, 11:21 AM
#37
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Honestly, I disagree. I think "bringing fans who weren't otherwise interested in the sport" is grossly over-rated.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
02-08-08, 11:56 AM
#38
That's fine for him... but wasn't my point. Point is, I don't think it's a good thing when efforts are made to attract the casual/non racing fan, because the product and the atmosphere suffers. I'd rather spend my time with people who love cars and love racing, and appreciate a product intended for them, not celebrity hounds.
To me, it's just like all of the "crossover" marketing attempts they make with Monday Night Football or the Superbowl by bringing in pop stars for the intro, or commentators from other mediums. I don't need Hank Williams Jr. and Brian Setzer singing a song, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake dncing, or Dennis Miller yaking in ordfer to enjoy a football game. I like football, and if you don't I'd rather you didn't watch so that I don't have to be subjected to that crap while I'm trying to enjoy the game.
To me, it's just like all of the "crossover" marketing attempts they make with Monday Night Football or the Superbowl by bringing in pop stars for the intro, or commentators from other mediums. I don't need Hank Williams Jr. and Brian Setzer singing a song, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake dncing, or Dennis Miller yaking in ordfer to enjoy a football game. I like football, and if you don't I'd rather you didn't watch so that I don't have to be subjected to that crap while I'm trying to enjoy the game.
02-08-08, 12:57 PM
#40
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In 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mario Andretti was a co-driver with Panoz.
I remember Jan Magnussen bitching about how he and David Brabham would have to strain the car 100% to gain the time that Mario lost while he was in the seat.
02-09-08, 12:23 AM
#41
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Honestly, I disagree. I think "bringing fans who weren't otherwise interested in the sport" is grossly over-rated.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
I agree that I would rather go to a vintage race over an F1 anyday. I don't race in vintage but I race a vintage car
02-09-08, 01:48 AM
#42
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Honestly, I disagree. I think "bringing fans who weren't otherwise interested in the sport" is grossly over-rated.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
They bring more money, but the end result is a **** product. Contrived, made-for-tv crap with cheezy sponsor tie-ins and moron commentators explaining drafting for the umpteenth time.
I'd rather go to events with less money, and more purists frankly. The golden age of racing in the late 60's early 70's didn't have the money of todays, but it was a helluva lot more fun in many ways. I had more fun at the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix last year than I did at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.
02-09-08, 10:36 AM
#43
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That's fine for him... but wasn't my point. Point is, I don't think it's a good thing when efforts are made to attract the casual/non racing fan, because the product and the atmosphere suffers. I'd rather spend my time with people who love cars and love racing, and appreciate a product intended for them, not celebrity hounds.
To me, it's just like all of the "crossover" marketing attempts they make with Monday Night Football or the Superbowl by bringing in pop stars for the intro, or commentators from other mediums. I don't need Hank Williams Jr. and Brian Setzer singing a song, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake dncing, or Dennis Miller yaking in ordfer to enjoy a football game. I like football, and if you don't I'd rather you didn't watch so that I don't have to be subjected to that crap while I'm trying to enjoy the game.
To me, it's just like all of the "crossover" marketing attempts they make with Monday Night Football or the Superbowl by bringing in pop stars for the intro, or commentators from other mediums. I don't need Hank Williams Jr. and Brian Setzer singing a song, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake dncing, or Dennis Miller yaking in ordfer to enjoy a football game. I like football, and if you don't I'd rather you didn't watch so that I don't have to be subjected to that crap while I'm trying to enjoy the game.
02-09-08, 09:38 PM
#44
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
More fans = More money = More sponsors = MORE SEATS FOR DRIVERS
Sometimes you have to put up with a bit of stupidness if you want a reasonable chance at ever getting a chance to drive (at some point).
Sometimes you have to put up with a bit of stupidness if you want a reasonable chance at ever getting a chance to drive (at some point).
03-27-08, 10:45 PM
#45
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I was at an Atlantic series practice this week at MSR Houston and saw ol' Malcolm run. He made some quick laps but defintely wasn't the fastest either day.
I have to give him credit for handling that car around the track. He's just as good as you would expect for someone at the Atlantic series level. He made some nice saves, but also spun a couple of times (like just about everyone else).
His comment is pretty bragdacious but may have been taken out of context, I wish there was more to judge from. We were in line for lunch together and listening to him talk he seemed like a typical young man getting to live a charmed life racing cars and having fun. Most of the drivers for that series are young and appear to be of affluent backgrounds, he just happens to be semi-famous too. (nearly all of them I saw had to be under 30)
I have to give him credit for handling that car around the track. He's just as good as you would expect for someone at the Atlantic series level. He made some nice saves, but also spun a couple of times (like just about everyone else).
His comment is pretty bragdacious but may have been taken out of context, I wish there was more to judge from. We were in line for lunch together and listening to him talk he seemed like a typical young man getting to live a charmed life racing cars and having fun. Most of the drivers for that series are young and appear to be of affluent backgrounds, he just happens to be semi-famous too. (nearly all of them I saw had to be under 30)
03-28-08, 04:09 PM
#47
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There is a guy named Bob Hahn who won the SCCA Runoffs National Championship a few years back at Mid-Ohio driving a Ford Mustang in American Sedan. Nice guy. (He might want to race you for the title of "Fastest Hahn on Earth!")
Originally Posted by DKJ
I was at an Atlantic series practice this week at MSR Houston and saw ol' Malcolm run. He made some quick laps but defintely wasn't the fastest either day.
Newman has raced multiple Rolex 24s and was a SCCA National Champion. Tim Allen and Craig T. Nelson raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring. Patrick Dempsey just completed the Rolex 24 2 months ago.
But 'ol Malcolm, he's the real Hollywood deal running mid-pack in Atlantics. Gotta say I think I was wrong about him all this time!
